Turkmenistan

A country of west-central Asia east of the Caspian Sea. Once part of ancient Persia and later ruled by Arabs (8th century), Turks (11th century), Mongols (13th-14th century), and Uzbeks (late 15th century), it was annexed by Russia in 1881 and became a constituent republic of the USSR in 1925. Turkmenistan declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ashgabat is the capital and the largest city. Population: 5,100,000.